After Christmas in 2024, we planned to head to Death Valley National Park but my injured ankle didn't seem healed enough for the region's rough terrain. We quickly changed our plans, with the California coast, a few the wildlife refuges along the way, and a few days in Yosemite Valley rounding out a loose itinerary. It would have been easy to be disappointed in the conditions during our visit to Yosemite. Except for one morning with pillowy (almost too) pink clouds, the skies were completely clear. It was very cold, with no snow in the forecast. The trees were bare and all the plants were either dead or in their winter dormancy. Instead of disappointment though, I found a burst of productivity and inspiration in winter's drab landscape. You can read about more about the trip here.
